Tapping apparatus



Dec. 17,1935. F, M ROESCH 2,024,390

TAPPING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 19, 1933 INVEYNTOR jg WM Patented Dec. 17, 1935.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

My invention relates to apparatus for tapping mains or pipes containing liquid or gas at different pressure than atmospheric. In particular,

my invention has been developed in connection with the tapping of gas mains.

The principal object of my invention is to provide an apparatus for effectively retaining a power machine in position to drill, ream and tap a hole in a pipe. Although the word tapping relates specifically to the step of screw-threading a hole, I also use the word herein generically as including drilling and reaming operations.

The nature of my invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, and of which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational bodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view of part of a retainingand locking device forming part of my invention;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, also showing an additional part;

Fig. 4' is a View of the lower end of the part shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a side view of another part of the retaining and locking device;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken 'on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5; and

,Fig. 7=is another view of Fig. 5.

Fig. 1 shows my improved tapping apparatus mounted on a main or pipe I0. A saddle H has a curved bottom adapted to rest on the pipe Ill. A rubber gasket is generally interposed between the saddle II and the pipe l0. On each side of saddle II are bosses [2 on which are nuts l3 screwed onto hooks l4 which engage the ends of a chain encircling the pipe l0. By setting up on the nuts l3, the saddle H can be tightly clamped on the main. The gasket serves to prevent or diminish leakage between the saddle and the surface of the pipe Ill during drilling, reaming and tapping.

The saddle I l is provided with an internal vertical bore in which is placed a tool IS. The tool l5 may be a drill or a reamer or a tap or a combination of the three. A stufiing box is provided where the tool l5 enters the saddle II and comprises an adjustable handle [6 for eifecting tightness to prevent or diminish leakage.

The saddle H is provided with an extension I! on which is mounted a vertical slide bar l8. The slide bar I8 is preferably rectangular in view of apparatus cmthe part shown in cross-section. Mounted on the slide bar is a holder I9. The holder I9 is movable longitudinally on the slide bar l8 and can be set in any desired position by means of a hand screw 20. An end plate 5| is removably screwed to the top 5 of the slide bar I8 to provide a stop for holder I 9 and is removable to permit ready repair or exchange of member l9 and associated parts. The holder l9 has a projection 2| which is bored and tapped to receive a feed screw member 22 10 having a handle 22a for moving the screw member vertically within the projection 2!. The lower end of the screw member 22 is pointed as at 23, and immediately above the point is provided with a circumferential groove 24. The 16 slide bar l8 and holder I9 are so machined that, in all working positions, they will hold screw member 22 in line with the center of tool I5.

Secured to the bottom part of the screw 22 is a retaining and locking means for holding a.'20 power machine inposition. The power machine may be of generally known construction and is shown principally in dash-and-dot lines and indicated by reference character 30. The power machine has a lower shaft extension 3|, which. 25 has an irregular recess 32 into which the upper end 33 of the tool i5 sets. At the upper end 01' the power machine is a projection 34 on which is a circumferential flange 35. The upper end of the projection 34 is pointed at 36. v The retaining and locking device. attached to the bottom end of screw member 22 is made up of three parts, an outer part 31, an inner part 38, and a pin 39. The inner part, as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, is a rectangular block which is drilled 35 at each end with recesses or sockets and 4|. The recess or socket 40 is conically shaped at the bottom and is adapted to receive the lower end of the screw member 22 and is so deep that the groove 24 is inside this recess. The point 23 40 of member 22 has a smaller angle at the apex than the angle between the bottom sides of the recess 40 in order to obtain accurate alignment of parts 22 and 38 under working pressure. The recess or socket 4| is conically shaped at the top and is adapted to receive the upper projection 34 of the power machine. The apex angle of point 36 is less than the apex angle of recess 4| so that the parts 34 and 38 are held in accurate alignment under Working pressure. The recesses and points are so aligned that there is a straight direct line of force through the parts 22, 38, 34 and tool IS. The inner member 38 is provided with a pin hole 42 so located that it is in alignment with the groove 24 when the bottom of screw member 22 is against the bottom of the recess is.

The outer member 3'! is a Ushaped piece.

The U-shaped piece has holes ie which are adapted to align with the hole '32. The pin 39 passes through the holes c2 and 4 and serves as a pivot for swinging the part 31 on the part A cotter pin may be placed in hole 18 to hold the pin in place. The pin to may be secured to the part 38 as by a chain if-l. The bottom part of the U-shaped member 37 is recessed'as shown at it. The bottom part of member 3'5 is also spaced from the bottom oi member 38 when the parts are put together. This leaves a space which is adapted to receive the flange 35 of the power machine and keep it in place.

In assembling the parts, the inner member 38 is placed on screw member 22 so that the hole i2 is in juxtaposition to the groove 2 The outer member 3'? is then placed over member 33 so that holes 6 3 are in alignment with hole 42 and groove The pin 39 is then placed in the aligned holes and groove and it will be clear that the pin holds the parts 3'5 and on the screw member 22 and serves as a pivot for part to allow it to swing with an on part thereby forming a locking device for holding members 35 and 36 in position. These parts can remain assembled irrespective of application or removal of the power machine.

In applying the power machine, screw member 22 is elevated sufic'iently to permit the power machine to be placed on the projection of the tool. The part is swung away from the part 58 and the part is brought down onto the machine. When the projection 3c is well up in the recess ll, the part 3i" can be swung into alignment with the part 38 and the flange 35 will be held between the parts 3? and 62. Thus the machine is locked in position. The screw 22 serves for feeding the machine down as the work progresses.

Slide is together with parts 2% 2E, 22 and 23 can be lowered on slide bar 53 so as to use the apparatus without a power machine. In this case the parts 3?, 38 and 3-3 can be removed from screw member 22, and the tool i5 can be rotated by hand, by means of a hand ratchet.

What I claim is:

1. In apparatus for tapping mains under pressure or the like with the aid of a power machine comprising a saddle, a slide bar mounted on said saddle, an adjustable holder slidable on said slide bar and a feed screw mounted on said holder, the combination therewith of a machine-retaining-and-locking device mounted on said feed screw comprising a member having end sockets, said member being formed with an aperture extending therethrough at right angles to, and communicating with one of said sockets, a pin adapted to be passed through said aperture, and a machine engaging element pivctaliy secured to said member for engaging and looking a part of a machine in the other socket.

2. In apparatus for tapping mains under pressure or the like with the aid or" a power machine having a flange projection comprising a saddle, a slide bar mounted on said saddle, an adjustable holder slidably mounted on said slide bar and a feed screw mounted on said holder having a groove, the combination therewith of a machineretaining-and-locking device comprising a member having aligned sockets at either end, said member being formed with an aperture extending therethrough at right angles to, and communicating with one of said sockets, a pin adapted to be passed through said aperture, and a machine engaging element pivotally mounted on said pin for engaging and looking a part of a machine in the other socket.

3. In apparatus for tapping mains under pressure or the like comprising a saddle, a slide bar mounted on said saddle, an adjustable holder slidable on said slide bar and a feed screw mounted on said holder, the combination therewith of a machine-retaining-andlocking device mounted on said feed screw comprising a member having aligned end sockets, said member being formed with an aperture extending therethrough at right angles to, and communicating with one of said sockets, a pin adapted to be passed through said aperture, and a U- shaped machine engaging element pivoted at its open end on said pin, the base of said U-shaped element being adapted to extend across the other end of said member in spaced relation therefrom for receiving and looking a part of a machine in the other recess.

FRED MICHAEL ROESCH. 

